DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0619; Project Identifier AD-2021-00789-R;
Amendment 39-21678; AD 2021-15-51]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Inc. (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Bell Textron Inc. (type certificate previously held by Bell
Helicopter Textron Inc.) Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212
helicopters. This AD was prompted by a fatal accident in which an
outboard main rotor hub strap pin (pin) sheared off during flight,
resulting in the main rotor blade and the main rotor head detaching
from the helicopter. This AD requires removing the pins from service
before further flight and prohibits installing them on any helicopter.
The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and
operators of these helicopters and is now issuing this AD to address
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 24, 2021. Emergency AD 2021-15-51,
issued on July 6, 2021, which contained the requirements of this
amendment, was effective with actual notice.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by September 23, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this final rule, contact Bell
Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone (450) 437-
2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax (450) 433-0272; email
productsupport@bellflight.com; or at https://www.bellflight.com/support/contact-
support. You may view this service information at the
FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood
Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA 2021-0619; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, any
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Wilson, Aerospace Engineer, DSCO
Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy.,
Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5786; email
david.wilson@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 6, 2021, the FAA issued Emergency AD 2021-15-51 (Emergency
AD 2021-15-51), which requires, before further flight, removing from
service all part number (P/N) 204-012-104-005 pins with a serial number
(S/N) prefix ``FNFS''. Emergency AD 2021-15-51 also prohibits
installing the pin on any helicopter as of the emergency AD's effective
date. The FAA sent Emergency AD 2021-15-51 to all known U.S. owners and
operators of these helicopters.
Emergency AD 2021-15-51 was prompted by a fatal accident on a Bell
Textron Inc. Model 212 helicopter in which a pin P/N 204-012-104-005
with an S/N prefix ``FNFS'' sheared off during flight, which resulted
in the main rotor blade and the main rotor head detaching from the
helicopter. The pin had accumulated only 20 total hours time-in-service
(TIS). An inspection of a different Model 212 helicopter revealed that
another pin installed, and made by the same manufacturer and with the
same S/N prefix, was deformed; this pin had accumulated only 29 total
hours TIS. Failure of the pin could result in the main rotor blade
detaching from the helicopter and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
Prior to the FAA issuing Emergency AD 2021-15-51, Transport Canada,
which is the aviation authority for Canada, issued Canadian Emergency
AD CF-2021-23, dated July 5, 2021 (Transport Canada Emergency AD CF-
2021-23), to correct an unsafe condition for the following Bell
Helicopter Textron Inc., helicopters:
Model 204B helicopters, S/Ns 2001 through 2070 and 2196
through 2199;
Model 205A-1 helicopters, S/Ns 30001 through 30065, 30067
through 30165, 30167 through 30187, 30189 through 30296, and 30298
through 30332;
Model 205B helicopters, S/Ns 30066, 30166, 30188, and
30297; and
Model 212 helicopters, S/Ns 30501 through 30999, 31101
through 31311, 32101 through 32142, and 35001 through 35103.
Transport Canada advises that during an investigation of a Bell
Textron Inc., Model 212 fatal accident in Canada, it was discovered
that a pin P/N 204-012-104-005 with an S/N prefix ``FNFS'', sheared off
during flight, leading to detachment of the main rotor blade and the
main rotor head. The pin had accumulated only 20 hours of service, and
inspection of another Canadian Bell Textron Inc., Model 212 helicopter
found a pin of the same P/N, made by the same manufacturer, with the
same S/N prefix ``FNFS'', to be deformed after only approximately 29
hours in service. According to Transport Canada, failure of a main
rotor hub strap pin will result in detachment of the main rotor blade
and loss of control of the helicopter.
Transport Canada also advises that, although the defective pins
were only reported on Bell Textron Inc., Model 212 helicopters, pins of
the same P/N can also be installed on Bell Textron Inc., Model 204B,
205A-1, and 205B helicopters. While the cause of failure has not been
determined, as a precautionary measure and to address the risk of
detachment of main rotor hub strap pins in flight, Bell has issued
Alert Service Bulletins to require replacing all pins with P/N 204-012-
104-005 that have S/N prefix ``FNFS''. Accordingly, Transport Canada
Emergency AD CF-2021-23 mandates replacement of affected pins.
Transport Canada considers its emergency AD an interim action and
states that further AD action may follow.

FAA's Determination

The FAA is issuing this AD after evaluating all the relevant
information and determining that the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of these
same type designs.

Related Service Information

The FAA reviewed the following Bell Alert Service Bulletins (ASBs),
each dated July 5, 2021:
ASB 204B-21-74 for Bell Textron Inc., Model 204B
helicopters, S/Ns 2001 through 2070 and 2196 through 2199;
ASB 205-21-117 for Bell Textron Inc., Model 205A and 205A-
1 helicopters, S/Ns 30001 through 30065, 30067 through 30165, 30167
through 30187, 30189 through 30296, and 30298 through 30332;
ASB 205B-21-71 for Bell Textron Inc., Model 205B
helicopters, S/Ns30066, 30166, 30188 and 30297; and
ASB 212-21-165 for Bell Textron Inc., Model 212
helicopters, S/Ns 30501 through 30999, 31101 through 31311, 32101
through 32142, and 35001 through 35103.
The ASBs specify removing all P/N 204-012-104-005 pins with an S/N
prefix ``FNFS'' before further flight. The ASBs also specify that,
although the investigation is still in progress, removing these pins
from service is required. The ASBs state that these pins may not have
been manufactured in accordance with the engineering design
requirements and may therefore shear as a result of this
nonconformance.

AD Requirements

This AD requires removing from service all P/N 204-012-104-005 pins
with an S/N prefix ``FNFS'' before further flight. This AD also
prohibits installing this pin on any helicopter as of the effective
date of this AD.

Interim Action

The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. If final action
is later identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date

Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
An unsafe condition exists that required the immediate adoption of
Emergency AD 2021-15-51, issued on July 6, 2021, to all known U.S.
owners and operators of these helicopters. The FAA found that the risk
to the flying public justified waiving notice and comment prior to
adoption of this rule because an urgent unsafe condition existed and
corrective action was required before further flight. This condition
still exists, therefore, notice and opportunity for prior public
comment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days,
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forego notice and
comment.

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include the docket number FAA 2021-0619 and Project
Identifier AD-2021-00789-R at the beginning of your comments. The most
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the final rule,
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing
date and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to David
Wilson, Aerospace Engineer, DSCO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone
(817) 222-5786; email david.wilson@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in
the public docket for this rulemaking.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 160 helicopters of U.S.
registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on
these numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this AD.
Replacing up to four pins takes about 20 work-hours and parts cost
about $1,756 for four pins for an estimated cost of up to $3,456 per
helicopter.

Authority for This Rulemaking

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States,
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

The Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive: